By Luke Voogt
Council’s plans for bike paths in Belmont’s High Street are sexist, ageist and elitist, according to a Grovedale health economist.
Katrina Alford this week joined the chorus High Street traders saying council’s plans to remove car parks would disadvantage the elderly, small businesses and families.
“The bike project will achieve few net benefits, other than for mainly male, young-ish cyclists to commute from well-paid jobs in (central) Geelong and (City) Hall.”
Dr Alford dismissed council’s claims its planned Principle Bike Network would benefit “cyclists of a wide range of ages and abilities”.
“In fact, only 1.1 per cent of Geelong workers cycle to work and they are not all ages and abilities,” she said.
Census figures indidated that more than three quarters of bike riders were males on above-average incomes, Dr Alford said.
Half of them were managers and professionals in their late to mid-30s, she said.
“Most older people, women and families with dependent children do not have the luxury, circumstances or capacity to switch from cars to (cycling) to work.”
The bike lanes were “bad policy” given 94 per cent of Belmont residents commute to work by vehicle, she said.
“Local female traders in Belmont are devastated by the Bike project.
“They will no longer be able to drive to drop off kids to school before work and shop for family necessities after work.
“Trade will be diverted to the already crowded and congested Waurn Ponds shopping precinct.”
Dr Alford said City Hall should concentrate on improving Geelong’s “patchy” and “infrequent” bus services instead.
But Bicycle Users Geelong president Tony Grgurevic said Geelong’s lack of cycling infrastructure was instead “ageist and sexist”.
“Most people who ride are men because the conditions favour the one per cent who are prepared to mix it with heavy traffic despite a lack of adequate infrastructure.”
“There are no conditions that suit the children to ride to school, the elderly to leave their cars at home and people without licences – this project will change that.”
Mr Grgurevic rejected High Street baker and Geelong Cycling Club committee member Sean Clark’s suggestion two weeks ago of using Francis Street as an alternative route.
“It’s good for people accessing the Barwon River from Grovedale, but if people need to visit the library or amenities at High Street – it doesn’t help.”
